Federal agents questioned a suspect and searched his home, office and warehouse, trying to determine whether he was linked to the mail bombs that killed a federal judge and a civil rights lawyer.
Authorities looked for "bomb-making paraphernalia" Monday when they held Wayne O'Farrell and searched his Old and New Surplus Salvage Warehouse in the southwest Alabama town of Enterprise, FBI agent Chuck Archer said.O'Farrell was released following the searches and no one was arrested.
"We have finished all of our conversations with him," Archer said of O'Farrell, but added that further questioning was possible later.
Archer confirmed that agents questioned O'Farrell and searched the present and former building where he operated his surplus and salvage business. Agents also searched O'Farrell's white, wood-frame home in nearby New Brockton.
Archer declined specific comment about others who had been interviewed, but added, "Since the middle of December a great many people throughout the entire South have been interviewed. That continues through this moment and I can assure you this will continue on through the days to come."
The bombs that killed Judge Robert Vance at his home in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 16 and Savannah, Ga., lawyer Robert Robinson at his office two days later have triggered a massive federal probe that was escalated last weekend with 50 more FBI agents assigned to the case.
President Bush also decried the bombings and pledged a full investigation.
Vance, a member of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, was killed when a pipe bomb exploded in his home in suburban Birmingham. His wife was injured, but recovered. A similar bomb killed Robinson, who was a veteran Savannah City Councilman.
Bombs also were mailed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and the NAACP headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. But these devices did not explode.